Explosion homeowner released on unrelated battery charge

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The south side homeowner whose house exploded earlier this month was released on her own recognizance Tuesday following a court appearance on an unrelated battery charge.

Moncy Shirley, owner of the home at 8349 Fieldfare Way, surrendered to the court with her attorney Randall Cable to face charges from a 2011 misdemeanor arrest for battery.

The case stems from a fight between Shirley, her ex-husband John and his girlfriend.

In the probable cause affidavit obtained by Fox59 News, John Shirley and Mary Croucher told police that Moncy Shirley assaulted them at John’s northside apartment during an argument.

An arrest warrant from the case went unserved since February 2011.

Last week Shirley’s attorney, Randall Cable, whom she shares with boyfriend Mark Leonard, contacted the court to advise it of the outstanding warrant.

Court records indicate Shirley and her attorney appeared Tuesday afternoon before the judge. Shirley was released on her own recognizance and issued a non-contact order with her ex-husband. Shirley faces a January court date.

Shirley and Leonard have spoken with fire, police and insurance investigators several times since the Nov. 10 explosion, which killed two people and caused $4.4 million in damage.

While several search warrants have been served and two associates of Leonard questioned, no arrests have been made as investigators have not officially confirmed the cause of the blast.